Effects of Hand Press Pellet on Constipation in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether hand press pellet is effective for constipation in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study that used non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 52 breast cancer patients-26 each in the experimental and control groups. The intervention was conducted thrice a week for 6 weeks; for the experimental group, a hand press pellet was applied to the corresponding points (A1, A5, A8, A12, A16, N18, E22, K9, F6, D2, D6, H2, L4, B7, B19) of the left hand (palm and back) to alleviate constipation. Three and 6 weeks after the intervention, outcomes were measured by using the Constipation Assessment Scale, Bristol Stool Form Scale, and Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life questionnaire. Results: A significant difference was observed between the two groups on the Constipation Assessment Scale (x²=44.38, p<.001) and Bristol Stool Form Scale (x²=33.24, p<.001). Patient assessment of constipation-quality of life of the experimental group were statistically significant compared with that of the control group (F=37.23, p<.001). Conclusion: Hand press pellet can be used as an effective nursing intervention to alleviate constipation in breast cancer patients.